Home Uncategorized “I DID IT MY WAY.” THE TINY SPARKLE BEHIND ALYSA LIU’S OLYMPIC SMILE THAT HAS MILAN BUZZING The world is fixated on the gold medal hanging around Alysa Liu’s neck — but in Milano Cortina, it’s the glitter just above her top teeth that has quietly stolen its own spotlight. As she beamed through tears after ending Team USA’s 24-year Olympic drought, cameras caught the unmistakable shimmer of a tiny tooth gem flashing beneath the arena lights, a rebellious little detail that feels perfectly aligned with the woman who just rewrote her destiny. The story behind it is even more cinematic: she placed it there herself, on her own terms, two years before she stepped away from the sport at just 16, choosing freedom over pressure and identity over expectation. At the time, it felt like a small act of self-expression; now, standing atop the Olympic podium, it looks almost prophetic — a glint of individuality that survived doubt, burnout, and reinvention. While judges measured rotations and edge quality, Liu has always measured something deeper: authenticity. And maybe that sparkle wasn’t just aesthetic rebellion at all — maybe it was a quiet declaration that whenever she returned, it would be as herself, unapologetically and completely.

“I DID IT MY WAY.” THE TINY SPARKLE BEHIND ALYSA LIU’S OLYMPIC SMILE THAT HAS MILAN BUZZING The world is fixated on the gold medal hanging around Alysa Liu’s neck — but in Milano Cortina, it’s the glitter just above her top teeth that has quietly stolen its own spotlight. As she beamed through tears after ending Team USA’s 24-year Olympic drought, cameras caught the unmistakable shimmer of a tiny tooth gem flashing beneath the arena lights, a rebellious little detail that feels perfectly aligned with the woman who just rewrote her destiny. The story behind it is even more cinematic: she placed it there herself, on her own terms, two years before she stepped away from the sport at just 16, choosing freedom over pressure and identity over expectation. At the time, it felt like a small act of self-expression; now, standing atop the Olympic podium, it looks almost prophetic — a glint of individuality that survived doubt, burnout, and reinvention. While judges measured rotations and edge quality, Liu has always measured something deeper: authenticity. And maybe that sparkle wasn’t just aesthetic rebellion at all — maybe it was a quiet declaration that whenever she returned, it would be as herself, unapologetically and completely.

Uncategorized · 22/02/2026 · comments off

The story behind Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu’s viral ‘smiley’ piercing

There’s a story behind American figure skater Alysa Liu’s gold-medal smile.

The 20-year-old Olympian, who claimed gold Thursday following a dazzling performance in the women’s free skate at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games, has gone viral over her frenulum piercing, which is in “tissue that connects her upper lip to her gums,” accompanied by jewels prominently featured over her top front teeth, according to NBC Sports.

“I pierced it a little over two years ago now,” Liu said of the piercing, which she calls her “smiley,” in an interview with TMJ4 News.

Alysa Liu smiles after taking gold in the women's free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.
 Alysa Liu smiles after taking gold in the women’s free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.James Lang-Imagn Images

“I had my sister hold up my lip, and I was looking in the mirror and I had my piercing needle and then — yeah, I just put it through,” she said.

Liu’s mouth jewels were on full display Thursday when she ended the United States’ 24-year gold-medal drought in figure skating.

She posted a score of 150.20 for a total of 226.79, which included her score of 76.59 from Tuesday’s short program.

Upon concluding her program, Liu exclaimed into the nearby cameras, “That’s what I’m f–king talking about!”

Alysa Liu
 The Olympian’s “smiley” piercing has gone viral during the Milano Cortina Games.James Lang-Imagn Images

Liu’s shining moment came two years after she originally called it a career in 2022 amid competition fatigue.

When she returned to the ice in 2024, she wanted to do it on her own terms.

2026 WINTER OLYMPICS

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  • Mitch Marner proves he’s big-game player again — for Canada
  • ‘Quad God’ Ilia Malinin admits he ‘was not ready to handle’ Olympics pressure
  • Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo joins elite Olympic company with 10th gold medal

“I think my story is more important than anything to me,” Liu said, “and that’s what I will hold dear, and this journey has been incredible, and my life has just been — I have no complaints.”

Liu smiled atop the podium while Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai finished second and third, respectively.

Alysa Liu
Alysa Liu returned to skating in 2024 after retiring two years earlier.Getty Images

In addition to her gold medal in singles, Liu and her teammates, including Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito, took gold in the team event.

The 2026 Winter Olympics conclude Sunday.

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